50/66 That lady would have been my wife by fair dealing--time was all I required. But base attacks on a man's character never deserve to win, and if I had once been certain that you had made them, my course would have been very different, both towards you and others. But why should I talk to you about this? Well, since you have spoken plainly, I will do the same. We De Stancys are a worn-out old party--that's the long and the short of it. |